Heartaches in Utah

I have seen a lot of heartaches and pains about relationships as I struggle also with myself in handling those things in the past. But heartaches are always a learning experience and from those pains we move on and become a better person.

Before I get to be melodramatic here, in sports a relationship is built with trust and respect a coach or a player could not demand trust they have to work their butts off in order to gain it.I have been such a fan of Utah Jazz underrated star Andrei Kirilenko. He is the most paid player in the Utah Jazz today and being said that he also has the most dynamic and hardworking coach Mr. Jerry Sloan.

Gerald Eugene Sloan has been a coach in Utah Jazz franchise since 1988 and had an amazing record of 1035 wins. He was a former Chicago Bulls defensive specialist and has won several awards as a player including all defensive team for about two times in his career. He had leaded the Utah Jazz as a coach for two consecutive finals appearance but was fruitful and unfortunate to be in the Michael Jordan’s era.

Andrei Kirilenko was criticized for having such a big contract with not much showing as his stats are declining like my hairline. Hehehe he had a dismal average of 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds compared to his 15.3 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 2.6 blocks and 2.6 assist per game in the previous year.

Last FIBA Europe championship were Andrei made a significant win against the power house Spain. He broke out and told the press that he doesn’t want to play in the Utah Jazz organization anymore. He was lost and gave up his love for basketball while he was playing in Utah. As Jerry Sloan has other ways of motivating his players. He makes his players feel guilty every time they commit a mistake until they became a robot in his system.

Whatever happened to having fun? Well Andrei has a point but maybe Sloan is also feeling the pressure since having a big pay check also has a price of its own. Kirilenko wasn’t performing well and making him feel guilty could either have a good outcome or the player gets worse. Relationships are built with trust and once the trust isn’t there then it would take a lot of time to build. Andrei may opt out but I’m sure he will find his heart where he will be truly happy. But certainly not in the arms of Sloan.